Maryland native Patrick Gloyd will lead the Conservancy's staff as the new executive director.

The Burke Centre Conservancy has hired Patrick Gloyd as its new executive director, the culmination of a search that began in October to replace former executive Thomas Wade.

Gloyd, 39, has had 13 years of experience managing homeowners associations, most recently as director of operations for management firm Property Management People Inc. in Frederick, Md. He has also previously managed the Kentlands Assembly and Lake Linganore Association, also in Maryland.

"This was an opportunity to come back and really get involved in something to call my own, and really make a difference," said Gloyd, who said he looked forward to the chance to work directly with homeowners at Burke Centre, as opposed to his most recent job, which was more managerial.

The Board of Trustees chose in May not to renew Wade's contract, which expired in September. Administration and communications director Jeannie Winslow was installed as acting director to fill the gap until a new director was found.

The search for the new executive director was conducted by a five-member search committee, which was chaired by former Ponds cluster trustee Duwain Ketch. The committee interviewed Gloyd twice, once by phone and once in Burke, in addition to giving him a tour of the Burke Centre property.

"We were looking for someone who had the professional skills who would know how a homeowners association would properly run. We wanted someone who would bring that experience to Burke Centre," said Greg Smith, chair of the Conservancy's Board of Trustees. "He had all the skills and abilities we were looking for."

Gloyd verbally committed to take the job in late November and officially started work on Dec. 6.

"I think he brings a wealth of varied experiences that will be an asset to us, and he has outstanding people skills, which will benefit us greatly here as well," said Winslow. Gloyd also attended the Board's monthly meeting on Dec. 9, and said he plans to begin attending various cluster meetings.

"There are a lot of projects, and for the executive director, that's what makes it interesting," he said.

Smith said the Board appreciates the opportunity to use Gloyd's experience to address some of the thorny issues facing the Conservancy in 2005.

"A lot of the choices we've been trying to figure out, how best to improve a community that's aging, [and other] things we've been thinking about doing are things that we really wanted somebody who has been there and done that, and was able to provide input," said Smith. "He's seen a lot of different things in his 13-plus years."